Respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms caused by common viral infections are self-limiting in most patients in pediatric clinics. However, it is also true that a small proportion of patients do develop serious conditions such as encephalitis and respiratory distress. Early diagnosis is indispensable for appropriate treatment. Rapid detection tests for influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus and adenovirus are widely used in pediatric clinics. The sales of rapid detection tests for influenza virus have shown a remarkable increase in recent years after neuraminidase inhibitors became available for treatment. The methods utilized in these tests are enzyme immune assay, chromatographic immune assay, optical immune assay and others. Their sensitivity and specificity are reported to be sufficient for clinical use. According to the questionnaires sent out to the users of these tests, most users were satisfied with these rapid detection tests ; however, some users requested greater accuracy, simplicity and longer shelf life. Clinicians should be aware that poor sampling may result in wrong results. Simple technique, quick reaction, clear results and low expense are required for these detection tests as point of care tests(POCT). The development of clinical laboratory medicine has made clinical laboratories more centralized and integrated than in the past decades. The development of POCT will bring clinical laboratories much closer to clinicians and patients than in the present.

*Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita 010-8543